Appendix A: Alcohol and Other Drug Policies (AOD)

Introduction

College regulations governing the use of alcohol and other drugs are designed to support the personal health and safety of each member of the Elizabethtown College community. In addition, College policies and procedures are intended to foster an environment that promotes sound judgment, respect for the rights of others, and acceptance of personal responsibility for one’s behavior.  College policy is aligned with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regarding alcohol and other drugs and includes regulations above and beyond the law to promote a healthy College community.

It is the duty of all students to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with College regulations and to help others do likewise. In all instances, students are considered fully responsible for their own actions and personal well-being. Students also are encouraged to be mindful of the well-being of others. Any behavior which puts health or safety at risk or which infringes on the rights of others will be referred to the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities.

The College recognizes that the decision to consume or not consume alcohol or other drugs is made by the individual in accordance with the individual’s personal beliefs. Further, the College encourages all students to consider carefully the potential dangers of alcohol or other drug use and reminds students that they are responsible for abiding by all state laws and institutional polices.

Alleged violations of the AOD Policy are enforced by Campus Safety and Student Conduct and handled through the student conduct process and may be referred to local law enforcement. The following regulations apply:

1.  No one under the age of 21 is permitted to possess or consume alcohol anywhere on or off the Elizabethtown College campus.
2. Individuals 21 years of age or older may possess alcohol for their personal use.  The maximum quantity allowed per occupant of legal drinking age is not more than:
   • One six-pack (of 12oz containers) of beer
   • OR 750 ml of wine
   • OR 1 pint of distilled alcohol or other alcohol (this includes pre-mixed cocktails)
3. Students assigned to an independent living unit (College owned houses, Quad Apartments, Hackman Apartment or Brinser suites) who are all 21 years old or older may possess a maximum of thirty 12 oz containers of beer as opposed to the standard limit of twenty-four (maximum limit applies to the living unit as a whole). This amount only applies to residents of a unit and not their guests.
4. Under no circumstance is a person of legal age permitted to furnish alcohol to a person under the age of 21.
5. Any student, regardless of age, who is present where an alcohol and/or drug violation occurs, may be considered equally responsible or complicit to policy violations. 
6. Possession or use of a false ID is prohibited.
7. Kegs of any size, beer balls, or other containers of large quantity, whether empty, partially or completely filled, are strictly prohibited on campus, or off-campus when representing the College in any event whatsoever, either as a participant or as a spectator.
8. Paraphernalia:   Alcohol containers that are considered decorative should be free of alcohol, clean and dry.  The following items are permitted for decorative use in any student room:
   • Decorative beer glasses/mugs/growlers
   • Decorative shot glasses
   • Decorative wine/liquor bottles
   • Posters

Paraphernalia that is not permitted includes but is not limited to, the following:

• Partially filled alcohol containers
• Funnels
• Keg taps
• Kegerators
• Beer/water pong tables ( a table or surface designated to be used for drinking games)
• Any items, in the college’s estimation, associated with drinking games alcohol consumption
• Any items related to abuse/misuse of other substances

9.   Participation in any behavior designed for the rapid consumption of alcohol ( funnels, keg stands, drinking games, etc

10. Sale of alcoholic beverages (includes door cover charge and sale of cups) is prohibited.

11. Use or possession of distilling, wine making or brew kits is prohibited.

12. Public drunkenness is prohibited (See Alcohol Emergencies).  

13. Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is prohibited.

14. The abuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances by individuals of any age will not be tolerated.

15. Emergency medical response to any alcohol or other drug related emergency will be at the student’s expense.

16. No alcohol may be consumed or distributed in any campus common area unless permitted by the College via written permission from the Dean of Students or their designee. Common areas are defined as indoor or outdoor spaces used by the residential community.  These include but are not limited to lounges, hallways, parking lots and athletic facilities.  In some instances, private spaces such as residence hall rooms, may become common or public by action of occupants, e.g., when a social gathering expands into a hallway or lounge, etc. 

17. Actual or intended use, purchase, possession, cultivation, manufacture, sale, or distribution of marijuana, synthetic marijuana such as K-2 or Spice, THC concentrates, bath salts, cocaine, heroin and other  narcotics, or other controlled substances except as expressly permitted by law is prohibited. This includes designer drugs and edibles containing marijuana, synthetic marijuana, or other drugs.

18. Students may not be present where drugs are being used or distributed.

19. Distribution, sale or sharing of prescription medication is prohibited. Students should keep prescription medication in its original, labeled container and store it in a secure location. Report any stolen prescription medication to Campus Safety.  Students should keep over-the-counter medication in original packaging to guard against misuse.

20. Any student who is a resident of an independent living unit and have a social gathering at which alcohol is present is considered a host. Hosts are expected to register non-student guests, monitor activities within the living unit to ensure that no violations of College policy are occurring, and ensure that individuals under the legal drinking age are not consuming alcohol. Hosts of private social gatherings held off campus are responsible for insuring adherence to alcohol and drug laws and Standards of Conduct. 

21. All non-student guests are subject to this AOD Policy and other college policies and regulations. Student hosts will be held responsible for the behavior of their guests (see Guest and Visitor Policy ).

22. No student, regardless of age, may possess or consume alcohol or other drugs while representing the College on a College-sponsored trip, event, or other activity, including athletic events, whether on or off-campus, unless expressly permitted by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students or designee or Dean of the Faculty.

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Alcohol Emergencies

Never assume someone can just “sleep off” alcohol poisoning.  Even if the individual has stopped drinking, alcohol continues to be released into the bloodstream and the blood alcohol level is rising.

WARNING SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE (VITALS):

• Vomiting
• Incoherent-can’t focus, confused, inability to wake up
• Temperature-decrease in body temperature, cold, sweaty skin
• Absence of color-pale or blue skin
• Low/Irregular breathing
• Seizures

One warning sign is sufficient reason to take action!

CALL 717.361.1111 or 911 for immediate emergency response.

Take immediate action if you are aware of any health or safety emergency. You (and the person needing assistance) will not be subject to the student conduct process if you call on behalf of another student, friend or guest, and follow the guidelines of the Amnesty Provision.

All members of the Elizabethtown College community are expected to take responsibility for the well-being of others.

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Relevant Laws

Elizabethtown College and all members of its community are subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With specific regard to alcohol, the following Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations apply:

1. The minimum legal age for the purchase, attempted purchase, possession, consumption, or knowing or intentional transport of alcohol is 21 years.
2. It is illegal to misrepresent one’s own age or the age of another person in order to purchase or otherwise obtain alcohol (e.g., possession or use of false ID, driver’s license, verbal misrepresentation, etc.).
3. It is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The blood alcohol content maximum in the Commonwealth is .08% for those 21 years of age or older, and .02% for those under 21 years of age.
4. It is illegal to sell, furnish or purchase with intent to sell or furnish any alcoholic beverages to a person who is under 21 years of age.
5. It is illegal to charge admission to an event to cover the cost of alcohol being served or to otherwise sell alcohol to others, regardless of age, without a state license. (Examples include selling cups, accepting donations upon entry, and so on.)
6. Public Drunkenness- It is illegal to appear in any public place manifestly under the influence of alcohol, to the degree that self, others or property may be endangered, or that the intoxicated person may annoy those within the vicinity.
7. The above list is representative, not exhaustive, of the relevant laws that currently exist. Penalties for violating these laws may include fines, loss of driving privileges, and incarceration. For more information on local, state and Federal laws, see the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board website.

Local Law

It is illegal in the Borough of Elizabethtown to consume, use or possess any open bottles, flasks, cups, or other containers of alcoholic beverages on any public street, sidewalk or parking lot.  It is illegal for any person under the age of 21 to have alcohol in their system anyplace in the Borough.  The Elizabethtown Police have the authority to use a breath test devise to determine whether a person under the age of 21 has alcohol in their system, and refusal to agree to take the breath test may result in a citation.  Any violation of these borough ordinances may result in fines of no less than $25 and no more than $600 plus costs, and failure to pay the given fines and costs may result in imprisonment for up to 30 days.  Ordinances may be updated and amended by Borough officials at any time.  A copy of the current Borough Ordinances may be obtained upon request at the Borough Offices at 600 South Hanover Street, Elizabethtown, PA.

It is a violation of federal law to possess, manufacture (this includes growing marijuana plants), or distribute a controlled substance. Defined by federal statute, controlled substances include, but are not limited to, marijuana (both natural and synthetic), cocaine, PCP, LSD, and other narcotics.

A student found guilty of possessing a controlled substance may be subject to some or all of the following sanctions under federal law:

• First conviction: Up to one year imprisonment and a fine of at least $1,000, or both.
• With one prior state or federal drug conviction: At least 15 days in prison, not to exceed two years and fined at least $2,500, or both.
• After two or more prior drug convictions: At least 90 days in prison, not to exceed three years, and/or a fine of at least $5,000 (21 U.S.C. § 844(a)).

Federal law may require the forfeiture of property used to possess or to facilitate possession of a controlled substance (21 U.S.C. § 881(a)), and the forfeiture of vehicles, boats, aircraft or any other conveyances used to transport or conceal a controlled substance (21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(4)). In addition, any individual who knowingly possesses a controlled substance may be assessed a civil fine of up to $10,000 (21 U.S.C. § 844a).

Penalties for the manufacture or sale of drugs are even more severe if the violation occurs within 500 feet of an educational institution, such as the College or other area schools.

Legal defense against drug charges, even without conviction, may cost many thousands of dollars. 

Upon a drug conviction, the federal government may also deny or revoke federal benefits, such as student loans, grants, and contracts.   Felony and (in some states) misdemeanor convictions on drug charges will make you ineligible for commercial and professional licenses, such as those required to practice medicine, law, psychology, nursing, etc., for up to one year for first offense, and up to five years for second and subsequent offenses, (21 U.S.C. § 862(b)).

Intoxication from illicit drugs may impair your judgment and put you at greater risk of performing a negligent act (e.g., an automobile accident in which someone is injured) for which you could be sued. You may also risk being included in a lawsuit if you sell or provide drugs to another person who, after using them, goes on to perform a negligent action. The cost of legal defense, either for the actual drug charge or as a result of a lawsuit, along with possible fines or civil judgments, could cause considerable financial hardship for you and your family.  

Complete text of Federal drug laws is available at the Title 21 United States Code Controlled Substances Act. The text of local ordinances is available at the Elizabethtown Borough Office, 600 South Hanover Street, Elizabethtown, PA.

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Education

The College takes seriously its responsibility to educate students regarding the effects, uses, and abuses of alcohol or other drugs. The College offers programs and services intended to help students make healthy decisions. In addition, the College regularly monitors the patterns of alcohol and other drug use in order to provide the community with accurate information. Students are encouraged to participate in educational programs facilitated by Student Wellness and the  Residence Life Office.

Educational programs include but are not limited to:

• New Student Orientation programs such as Blue Jay Community Talks, a workshop that includes information about making good decisions about alcohol or other drug use.
• Student Wellness – Wellness Wednesdays special topics, National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week; Alcohol Awareness Month programming, Social Norming programs, etc.
• Student Health 101 – all students have access to a monthly newsletter about personal health and wellbeing - readsh101.com/etown.
• BASICS – (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students) Students may choose to meet with a staff counselor to examine alcohol or other drug use in a judgment-free two-session process. Fee is waived if student voluntarily elects to participate.
• Alcohol/Drug Assessment with a college staff counselor which requires two sessions. The fee is waived if not a sanction.

Commonly Abused Drugs

From the National Institute on Drug Abuse – www. drugabuse.gov

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